Karnataka drugs control department has identified 24 drugs from April 10 to April 27 that are tested to be of not of standard quality (NSQ).  These drugs were picked up at random by the team of enforcement officers during their surprise inspection rounds to pharmacy outlets.

The drugs are Rabisun-DSR which is a combination of rabeprazole sodium and domperidone SR capsules manufactured by SunLife Sciences in Haridwar.

NSWET and PMT soap manufactured by SRS Industries at Uttarkhand, PFD-SR which contains pantoprazole enteric coated & domperidone SR capsules manufactured by Ultratech Pharmaceuticals in Solan district, Panserr-40 which contains pantoprazole manufactured by Oxford Pharma in Haridwar, Pentsaar-40 also containing pantoprazole manufactured by Sarthak Biotech in Karnal in Haryana, Crusimol 650 containing paracetamol manufactured by Panther Health Care in Roorkee district, Q-Max which has ofloxacin manufactured by Alkem Laboratories in Himachal Pradesh, Amhiclox-CB containing amoxicillin with dicloxacillin manufactured by Jackson Laboratories at Himachal Pradesh, Megaxin-OZ containing cefixime trihydrate and orindazole manufactured by Ambic Ayurchem at Roorkee, D Zero solution which contains povidone iodine manufactured by Cycus Pharma at Solan in Himachal Pradesh, Aphyline containing acebrophylline manufactured by Cian Healthcare at Haridwar, Enrodac -10 vet injections containing enrofloxacin manufactured by Zydus Animal Healthcare at Ahmedabad, Itocin which is an oxytocin injection manufactured by Bitin Lifesciences at Himachal Pradesh, Biotocin which is also an is an oxytocin injection manufactured by SGS Pharmaceutical in Uttarkhand and EG Pharmaceuticals in Himachal Pradesh, Maxytocin another oxytocin injection manufactured by Zee Laboratories at Paonta Sahib, chlorpheniramine maleate injection manufactured by Park Benz Laboratories at Raisen District  in Madhya Pradesh, Rabeprazole tablets manufactured by Waksman Selman Pharmaceuticals in Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, Furoxi -500 manufactured by Saphnix Life Sciences at Poanta Sahib, Azipan -100 containing azithromycin dispersible tablets manufactured by Merril Pharma in Roorkee and Gynecef containing cefixime mouth dissolving tablets manufactured by Himalaya Meditek in Dehradun.

The department carries out these inspections and it is mandated to ensure quality drugs are sold at the outlets, said Raghurama Bhandary, drugs controller, government of Karnataka.

The drugs control department has issued warning notices to the hospitals and the chemists to refrain from prescribing and stocking these drugs. Further, it has also alerted the public not to purchase these drugs.

Most of the drugs are manufactured at the former excise free zones in the northern parts of the state. In these areas, there is a poor monitoring of quality manufacturing practices. At times drug fails quality tests because of poor content of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. There are also instances of poor refrigerated transportation system which hamper the content of the drugs, pointed out industry experts.